CA is a designation provided to the individual who has received certification of Chartered Accountancy from a statutory body that determines that the individual possesses knowledge and skills. In India ICAI or the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) provides the certification to become a CA. The Full Form of CA is Chartered Accountancy.
A student can become a CA after completing three examinations namely CA Foundation, CA Intermediate and CA Final. CA Foundation Eligibility is that students must pass class 12 from a recognized school with 50%. CA Intermediate Eligibility is that students must clear the Foundation exam as well as their bachelor's degree. Students need to clear both Foundation and Intermediate Exams in order to give CA Final. Students taking Direct Entry route must complete graduation and the entry point will be CA Intermediate.
The CA Foundation course fee is INR 9,800. The CA Intermediate Course Fees for both groups are INR 18,000. In the CA Final the course fees of both groups are different. CA Final Fees for Group 1 is INR 13,000 and CA Final Fees for Group 2 is INR 22,000.
Chartered Accountancy [C.A] deals with auditing financial statements, accounting, maintaining tax returns, maintaining records of investment, and assessment of financials for any individual or firm. Professionals after completing CA have a starting salary of INR 6 LPA – 7 LPA. Check: CA Salary
- What is a CA?
1.1 Why Study CA?
1.2 Who Should study a CA?
1.3 What is ICAI? - How to become a CA in India?
2.1 CA Exams
2.2 Direct Route
2.3 CPT Route vs Direct Entry - CA Foundation
3.1 CA Foundation: Eligibility
3.2 CA Foundation: Syllabus
3.3 CA Foundation: Books
3.4 CA Foundation: Marking Scheme
3.5 CA Foundation: Important Dates - CA Intermediate
4.1 CA Intermediate: Eligibility
4.2 CA Intermediate: Syllabus
4.3 CA Intermediate: Books
4.4 CA Intermediate: Marking Scheme
4.5 CA Intermediate: Important Dates - CA Final
5.1 CA Final: Eligibility
5.2 CA Final: Syllabus
5.3 CA Final: Books
5.4 CA Final: Marking Scheme
5.5 CA Final: Important Dates - What does a CA do?
- What is Articleship in CA?
- CA vs CPA
- CA vs ACCA
- Courses after CA
- Skills Required
- Salary
- FAQs
What is CA
The CA or CA program is one of the Toughest Courses in India. It is a professional certification course that enables an individual to work as a CA. The course is run by The Institute of Chartered Accountants. As of India. It is a specialization cum certification type of program where candidates need to complete their 10+2 exams with a minimum of 60% aggregate scores. Check: BCom with CA
The course is an international accounting designation that is administered to accounting professionals, world-wide. Candidates pursuing this course explore the areas of management accounting, audit and assurance, financial accounting and reporting, and applied finance or taxation. See Also: What does a CA do?
Why Study Chartered Accountancy?
There are various reasons to study the CA, and be a CA. Check them in the points below.
Learn More: What are the advantages of studying CA?
You should consider studying Chartered Accountancy because it is a unique profession with the following advantages.
- CAs are highly in demand by various organizations including Banks, Financial Organizations, Corporates, etc. So, there are lots of Job Scopes for CA candidates.
- Candidates with a CA certificate can also start their own auditing firm and start giving auditing services to their clients.
- The candidates earn handsome starting salary packages, ranging from INR 5,00,000 to INR 25,00,000 per annum.
- Once experienced, it may go as high as INR 75,00,000 per annum, depending on the skills of the candidates.
- Chartered Accountants are always seen as respectable professionals and are often regarded as highly qualified people.
- Since the CA exams are very tough to crack, only a few people can qualify to become CA. But, the demand is huge. So, it is a profession with fewer people and more demand.
-
The candidates with a CA certificate can work in Government Sector Jobs, Private Sector Jobs and Personal Startups as well.
Check: CAs face these struggles everyday
Who Should Study a CA?
Pursuing a Chartered Accountancy is not an easy task. It requires a lot of determination, passion, hard work, rigorous study and determination to successfully complete it despite failures and the number of attempts. The following candidates must pick the CA:
- Candidates who are interested in auditing, taxation and accounting can opt for the CA.
- Candidates who wish to become a CA (or an FCA/ACA) and work in corporate finance. Read: How to Become a CA
- Candidates who wish to independently start their own practice and are interested in financial domains, taxation etc can also pursue the CA.
-
As a global qualification, candidates who wish to pursue a career abroad in the field of accounting and taxing can also pursue the CA.
-
Students get the opportunity to work in corporate finance.
CA Skillsets:
What is ICAI?
ICAI or Institute of Chartered Accountancy is among the top professional accounting bodies of India which was set up by the Government of India, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The ICAI was set up on July 1, 1949. It was established as a statutory body under the Chartered Accountancy Act of 1949 by the Indian Parliament.
The Chartered Accountancy course is offered by the globally recognized ICAI. There are certain eligibility criteria that candidates need to go through to get admission to this course. Also there are some entrance exams that every applicant should crack to access this course. CPT or Common Proficiency Test is the entry level entrance exam for this program, conducted twice a year in June and December.
Check: ICAI Kolkata
How to Become a CA in India?
There are various phases completing which a candidate finally gets certified as a CA. In this profession, candidates explore how to manage the financial viability of a particular business. See: Top CA training institutes in kolkata
To Become a CA, candidates need to go through several phases, including fulfilling eligibility requirements, applying and completing the degree needed, etc. Check the stages in the section below.
- Step 1: Students need to complete the form and apply for the CPT exam which is also known as the Foundation Course. Students can sit for this exam while in school.
- Step 2: After completing the foundation course students will have to go through the IPCC Programme which is also known as the Intermediate Program. Students need to pass class 12 boards in order to be eligible.
- Step 3: With the completion of the IPCC course, candidates need to undergo CA articleship. This is a 3 year internship under a CA. This is the opportunity to explore their way of handling accountancy under an CA who is experienced.
- Step 4: Completing the CA final and cracking the exams is the final step toward becoming a certified CA. Candidates can apply for the course during their internship span.
See Also: Steps to become a CA
CA Exam
To get access to the CA, candidates can appear for the CA exams which are conducted at various levels. These include the foundation exam, intermediate exam, and final exam. All these three exams are conducted by the ICAI generally in May and November.
See Also: CA Exams
Direct Route
Candidates can also see the direct route for the CA. For this entry, commerce graduates need to score a minimum of 55% aggregate and should have studied areas including Accounting, Corporate Laws, Mercantile Laws, Auditing, Economics, and other fields of commerce. Non-commerce graduates can also access this course via direct entry, but they should have a minimum of 60% aggregate scores from a recognized educational institute.
Students can get direct entry into CA final exam if they have passed the CS executive or CMA Intermediate exam. Students will need 3 years through this Direct entry Scheme to become a CA. Students will need to do 9 months of Articleship which is mandatory.
CPT Route vs Direct Entry
| Particulars | CPT Route | Direct Entry Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Student must pass class 12 | Students must pass master, CS executive or CMA Intermediate |
| Exemptions | None | CPT Exempted |
| Minimum Duration | 4.5 - 5 Years | 3 Years |
| Eligibility to start Articleship | After clearing Group I of IPCC | Immediately on joining without clearing the IPCC Group I |
| Eligibility to start for IPCC | After 9 months of study after CPT | After 9 months of Articleship |
CA Foundation
The Foundation under the CA, is the entry level course, for this specific program, offered by the ICAI. Earlier it was called Common Proficiency Test and is arguably the most famous course under Chartered Accountancy. Check out the eligibility, syllabus, books, and important exam dates for this course below.
CA Eligibility: Foundation
The eligibility of the CA foundation states that -
- Candidates must successfully clear their 10th and 12th exams from a recognized educational institute.
- Also, the minimum mark they need to attain in their 12th standards is 50% aggregate.
- There is no age restriction to apply for the CA foundation.
CA Foundation Syllabus
Check out the subjects included in the CA Foundation syllabus in the tabulation form below. Check: CA Foundation Syllabus
| Paper 1 (Principles And Practice Of Accounting) | Paper 2 (Business Laws And Business Correspondence & Reporting) |
|---|---|
| Accounting Process | The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 |
| Inventories | The Indian Contract Act, 1872 |
| Theoretical Framework | The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 |
| Bank Reconciliation Statement | The Indian partnership act, 1932 |
| Concept of Accounting of Depreciation | The Companies Act, 2013 |
| Partnership Accounts | Communication |
| Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors | Sentence Type |
| Accounting for Special Transaction | Vocabulary Root Words |
| Introduction to Company Accounts | Prefixes |
| Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organization | Synonyms and Antonyms |
| Basic Accounting ratios (Solvency, Profitability, liquidity and turnover) | Phrasal verbs, Suffixes, Collocations and Idioms |
| Comprehension Passages, Note Making | - |
| Introduction to Basic Writing, Article Writing, Precis Writing, Report Writing | - |
| Writing Formal Mails, Writing Formal Letters, Meetings, Resume Writing | - |
| Paper 3 (Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning And Statistics) | Paper 4 (Business Economics and Business & Commercial Knowledge) |
| Equations and Matrices | Introduction to Business |
| Ratio and Proportions, Indices and Logarithms | Introduction to Business Economics |
| Linear Inequalities with Objective Functions and Optimization with respect to Objective Function | Theory of Production and Cost |
| Permutations and Combinations | Theory of Demand and Supply |
| Sets, Relations and Functions | Business Cycles |
| Time Value of Money | Price Determination in Different Markets |
| Sequence and Series | Business Environment |
| Basic Application of Differential and Integral Calculus | Government Policies for Business Growth |
| Statistical Description of Data | Business Organizations |
| Probability | Organizations Facilitating Business |
| Theoretical Distributions, Correlation and Regressions | Common Business Technologies |
| Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion | - |
| Index Number and Time Series | - |
CA Foundation Books
Some of the best and most recommended books for the CA foundation are -
- CA Foundation Principles and Practice of Accounting by Taxmann
- Fundamentals of Accounting for CA- CPT by PC Tulsian and Bharat Tulsian
- Quicker Business Mathematics Logical Reasoning and Statistics by Taxmann
- Quantitative Aptitude Mathematics with Short Tricks by CA Rajesh Jogani
- Mercantile Law by MC Kucchal and Vivek Kucchal
- Fundamentals of Accounting by DG Sharma
- Tulsian’s Business Law By Tulsian
- Grewal’s Accountancy For CA Foundation by MP Gupta
CA Foundation: Marking Scheme
There is a specific marking scheme done in the CA foundation exam.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Time | 3 Hours |
| For Right Answer | +1 |
| For Wrong Answer | -0.25 |
| Pass Mark | 50% |
CA Foundation Result
| Exam Events | May |
|---|---|
| Registration Date | Upto January 1, 2023 |
| CA Foundation Exam Date | June 24, 26, 28 and 30, 2023 |
| CA Foundation Result | To be Announced |
CA Intermediate
The CA Intermediate course, also called CA Inter, is regarded as the second level course of Chartered Accountancy. The course consists of a couple of groups with four subjects each. Candidates need to come through the CA Foundation to get eligible for this program. Check out the eligibility, syllabus, books, marking scheme, and important dates for this course below.
CA Eligibility: Intermediate
As per the CA intermediate eligibility criteria -
- Candidates need to come through the CA foundation program and clear the CA foundation exam successfully.
-
Also, they need to come through their bachelor's or masters degree with a minimum of 50% to 60% aggregate scores.
CA Intermediate Syllabus
Check out the subjects in the CA Intermediate syllabus in the table below.
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Advanced Accounting |
| Corporate and Other laws | Financial Management Economics for Finance |
| Taxation | Auditing and Assurance |
| Cost and Management Accounting | Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management |
CA Intermediate Books
Some of the best books for CA Foundation are -
- First lessons in Accounting Standards by MP Vijay Kumar
- A Handbook on Corporate and Other Laws for CA Inter by Munish Bhandari
- Cost Accounting for CA-IPC by PC Tulsian
- Handbook On Taxation by G. Sekhar
- Tulsian’s Accountancy: For CA Intermediate (Group II) by P. C. Tulsian and Bharat Tulsian
- Auditing and Assurance for CA Inter by CA Surbhi Bansal
- Padhuka's Students' Guide For Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management by B. Saravana and Prasath G. Sekar
- Students Guide on Financial Management and Economics For Finance by B. Saravana and Prasath G. Sekar
CA Intermediate Marking Scheme
As per the CA Intermediate marking scheme, candidates have to complete each paper in 3 hours. There will be 8 papers overall, with 100 marks each. Questions will be of objective type and there’s no negative marking in the test. The exam is conducted in both English and Hindi.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| No of Papers | 8 |
| Full Marks | 800 |
| Question Type | Objective |
| Negative Marking | Nil |
| Languages | Hindi and English |
| Time for each paper | 3 Hours |
CA Intermediate: Important Dates
Check out the important dates for the CA Intermediate exam 2023 in the table below.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration Form | Upto February 23, 2023 |
| May Exam Date |
Group I - May 3, 6, 8 and 10, 2023 Group II - May 12, 14, 16 and 18, 2023 |
| Result Declaration | To be Announced |
CA Final
The CA Final or Chartered Accountancy final course is the last level of this program. To be eligible for this program, candidates need to clear both Group I and Group II of the CA Intermediate course. Also they need to complete a practical training of 2.5 years. Check out the eligibility, syllabus, books, marking scheme and important dates for this course below.
CA Eligibility: Final
The eligibility criteria for the CA Final program state that -
- Candidates must clear both groups of the intermediate course exam.
-
Also, aspirants need to undergo an Advanced Integrated Course of four weeks which is on Information technology along with Soft skills. This consists of courses that are on advanced information technology along with management communication skills which should be in the last 2 years of practical training and also before the final exam.
CA Final Syllabus
Check out the subjects in the CA Final syllabus in the table below.
| Paper I - Financial Reporting | Paper II - Strategic Financial Management |
|---|---|
| Framework for Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements | Financial Policy and Corporate Strategy |
| Application of Indian Accounting Standards | Security Analysis |
| Indian Accounting Standards on Group Accounting | Risk Management |
| Analysis of Financial Statements | Security Valuation |
| Accounting and Reporting of Financial Instruments | Portfolio Management, Securitization |
| Integrated Reporting | International Financial Management, Startup Finance, Interest Rate Risk Management |
| Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting | Mutual Fund |
| Derivatives Analysis and Valuation, Corporate Valuation | - |
| Corporate Valuation- | - |
| Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring | - |
| Paper III - Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics | Paper IV - Corporate and Economic Laws |
| Audit Planning, Strategy and Execution | The Companies Act 2013 |
| Auditing Standards, Statements and Guidance Notes | Corporate Secretarial Service |
| Risk Assessment and Internal Control | The Securities Contract Regulation Act 1956 and the Securities Contract Regulation Rules of 1957 |
| Special aspects of Auditing in an Automated Environment | The Securities Board Exchange of India Act 1992 |
| Audit Reports | The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 |
| Audit of Limited Companies | The Secularization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 |
| Audit Committee and Corporate Governance | The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 |
| Audit of Consolidated Financial Statements | Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 |
| Audit under Fiscal Laws | The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 |
| Special features of Audit Banks, Insurance and Non Banking Financial Companies | The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 |
| Audit of Public Sector Undertakings | - |
| Liabilities of Auditors | - |
| Internal Audit, Management and Operational Audit | - |
| Due Diligence, Investigation and Forensic Audit | - |
| Peer Review and Quality Review | - |
| Professional Ethics | - |
| Paper V - Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation | Paper VI - Elective Subjects |
| Introduction to Strategic Cost Management | Risk Management |
| Modern Business Environment | International Taxation |
| Lean System and Innovation | Financial Services and Capital Markets |
| Cost Management Techniques | Economic Laws |
| Cost Management for Specific Sectors | Multidisciplinary Case Study |
| Performance Measurement and Evaluation | Global Financial Reporting Standards |
| Divisional Transfer Pricing | - |
| Strategic Analysis of Operating Income | - |
| Paper VII - Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation | Paper VIII - Indirect Tax Laws |
| Law and Procedures under the Income Tax Act of 1961 | Goods and Services Tax |
| International Taxation | Customs and FTP |
CA Final Books
Some of the best recommended books for the CA Final are -
- Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation: CA Final New Syllabus by B Saravana Prasath
- Comprehensive Approach to Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics by CA Vikas Oswal
- Padhuka’s A Ready Reference on Advanced Management Accounting by CA Prasath B Saravana
- Quick Revision Charts For Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics
- Padhuka’s Student Reference On Indirect Taxes: CA Final Old and New Syllabus by G Serkar and B Sarvana Prasath
- GST Compact Book: Indirect Tax by CA Raj Kumar
- Conceptual Learning A Handbook on Indirect Tax Law by Yashwant Mangal for CA and CS Final Year
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Padhuka’s Student Handbook On Advanced Auditing: CA Final New Syllabus by Sekar and B Sarvana Prasath
CA Final Marking Scheme
Check out the exam pattern and the marking scheme for the CA final exam in the table below.
Group 1
| CA Final Paper 1: Financial Reporting Exam pattern | |
|---|---|
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 5 questions to be answered from 6 |
| Assessment Pattern | - |
| Types of Question | Subjective type of question |
| CA Final Paper 2: Strategic Financial Management Exam Pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 5 questions to be answered from 6 |
| Assessment Pattern | - |
| Types of Question | Subjective types of question |
| CA Final Paper 3: Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 5 questions to be answered from 6, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both subjective and objective type of question |
| CA Final Paper 4: Corporate and Allied Laws Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 5 questions to be answered from 6, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both subjective and objective type of question |
Group 2
| CA Final Paper 5: Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation Exam pattern | |
|---|---|
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | Candidates have to answer 5 questions out of 6 |
| Assessment Pattern | - |
| Types of Question | Subjective type question |
| CA Final Paper 6A: Risk Management Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 4 questions to be answered from 5, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 6B: Financial Services and Capital Markets | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 4 questions to be answered from 5, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 6C: International Taxation Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 4 questions to be answered from 5, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 6D: Economic Laws Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 4 questions to be answered from 5, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 6E: Global Financial Reporting Standards Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 4 questions to be answered from 5, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 6F: Multidisciplinary Case Study Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 4 questions to be answered from 5, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 7: Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 5 questions to be answered from 6, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
| CA Final Paper 8: Indirect Tax Laws Exam pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English/ Hindi |
| Number of Questions Asked | 30 MCQ questions in part 1, and 5 questions to be answered from 6, in part 2. |
| Assessment Pattern | 30:70 |
| Types of Question | Both objective and Subjective |
CA Final Exam Date
Like the CA foundation and CA intermediate, the CA final exam is also conducted twice a year in May and December respectively.
| Exam Events | May |
|---|---|
| Registration form | February 3, 2023 – March 3, 2023 |
| Exam Dates |
Group I- May 02, 04, 07, and 09, 2023 Group II- May 11, 13, 15 and 17, 2023 |
| Result Date | July 2023 |
What Does a CA Do?
There are various roles and responsibilities of a CA. Check them in the points below.
- Auditing - One of the principles of a CA is auditing. This work includes reviewing corporate financial statements along with seeing the account ledgers. It is the prime work of many accounting practices.
- Tax Accounting - Tax Accounting is an important thing that the CAs need to execute. Handling taxes is an important thing to run any organization. They prepare personal and corporate income tax statements and organize tax plans.
- Financial Accounting - CAs are also involved in the work of financial accounting. They engage themselves in significant financial matters, handle suppliers and clients to talk about business.
- Budget Analysis - CAs also handle the work of doing budget analysis for creating and implementing financial arrangements for a specific business organization.
- Cost Management - Cost management is also a necessary work to execute by the CAs. Management accountants work in various organizations and help in business account review and capital financial planning.
See More:
What is Articleship in CA?
Articleship in Chartered Accountancy is a particular course in this program, which the students need to undergo after the completion of the CA-IPCC course. The only challenge that comes in front of the students for this articleship course is to choose the perfect place that fits their articleship purpose.
As per the CA articleship course eligibility criteria, CPT students need to come through both of the groups in the IPCC course. Also they need to complete 100 hours of ITT as well as the orientation program before the start of the CA articleship. Direct entries to this course need a minimum of 55% to 60% aggregate marks in either bachelors or masters.
CA vs ACCA
Both CA and ACCA are similar degrees with similar functionalities and opportunities. But, there are a few differences which are tabulated below.
| Parameters | CA | ACCA |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | CA | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
| Overview | CA is the highest degree for CAs within India. It is exclusively for Indian Students. It covers all the Taxation and Auditing related subjects along with some common Corporate Law related subjects suitable for the CA profession in India. | ACCA is an Accountant Certification course with international recognition. It prepares the candidates to take up accounting and finance related roles. They generally don't involve detailed law courses. |
| Governing Body | Institute of CAs of India | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, London |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with minimum 60% aggregate marks. | 10+2 with Accounting and Maths, with minimum 60% aggregate marks. |
| Levels of Courses | 3 levels | 3 levels |
| Admission Process | Direct | Both Direct and Entrance based |
| Examination Type | Level Based | Level Based |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 50,000 to 3,00,000 | INR 1,50,000 to 3,00,000 |
| Job Profiles | Accountants, Accounting Managers, Auditing Experts, Taxation Experts, etc. | Accountants, Accounting Managers, Auditing Experts, Taxation Experts, etc. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 5,00,000 to 25,00,000 | INR 8,00,000 to 20,00,000 |
CA vs CPA
Check out the course comparison between Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA), in the table below.
| Parameters | CA | CPA |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Chartered Accountancy | Certified Public Accountant |
| Course Duration | 3 to 4 years | 2 to 4 years |
| Eligibility | Candidates must complete their 10+2 exams with a minimum of 60% aggregate scores. | Candidates must come through their 12th standards with commerce stream with economics, mathematics, and accounts as core subjects, and should hold a bachelor's degree. |
| Admission | Merit in the previous exams | Direct admission (After fulfilling the eligibility criteria) |
| Average Fees | INR 50,000 to 3,00,000 | INR 3,75,000 to 4,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 5,00,000 to 25,00,000 | INR 8,00,000 to 10,00,000 |
Courses after CA
There is plenty of scope after the Chartered Accountancy course, which candidates can look for. Pursuing higher studies even after the CA develops the chances of an individual to get renowned jobs comparatively with ease, and enhances a person’s skills as well. Check out the courses below which you can pursue after CA.
| Courses | Description |
|---|---|
| CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) | CFA is one of the most popular courses to pursue after Chartered Accountancy and is also globally recognized. Eligibility for CFA is having a bachelor's degree from a recognized educational institute. The average course fee for CFA in India is INR 6,82,300. |
| Investment Banking | There are various Investment banking courses that candidates can pursue with their completion of the CA degree. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks. The course fee for the investment banking program ranges from INR 2 to 22 lakhs. |
| CS (Company Secretary) | CS is a 3 year professional course, regarded as equivalent to a bachelor's degree. The eligibility for this course is 10+2 exams successfully. The total course fee for this program is INR 22,600. |
| CPA (Certified Public Accountant) | CPA is a 2 to 4 year course, which is a good option to go for with the completion of the CA program. Candidates must have done their graduation in accountancy and should have mathematics, economics and accounts in their 12th standards. The course fee for CPA is 3.75- 4 lakhs. |
| LLB (Bachelors of Law) | LLB is a 3 year degree course. The eligibility of the course is having a UG degree from a recognised educational institute. The fee for this course via CLAT is INR 15.52 lakhs. |
| FRM (Financial Risk Manager) | FRM or Financial Risk Manager courses last for 1 to 3 year. Candidates must complete their graduation which is needed as the basic eligibility for this course. The course fees offered for the exam is $350 (INR 25815). |
Skills Required to become a Successful CA
There are a bunch of skills which are necessary to have or should be acquired by an individual to pursue the Chartered Accountancy (CA) course. Check them below.
| Discipline, Diligence and hard work | Conceptual understanding |
| Analytical skills | Communication Skills |
| Ability to Accept Failures | Managing the tightrope walk |
| General business interest and awareness | IT proficiency |
| Numeracy | Organisational and time management skills |
| A methodical approach | Self-motivation and commitment |
Top 20 CA Firms
Candidates with the CA often look to work in the most renowned chartered accountancy companies. Check out the top 20 CA firms of India, in the table below.
| PWC | Deloitte |
| KPMG | C. Vasudeva & Co |
| Ernst & Young (EY) | BDO International |
| RSM International | Grant Thornton International |
| Sahni Natrajan & Bahl (SNB) | Lodha & Co. |
| SS Kothari | Luthra & Luthra |
| Suresh Surana & Associates LLP | Desai Haribhakti |
| Sr Dinodia & Co. LLP | TR Chadha & Co. |
| Deewan PN Chopra & Co. | SP Chopra & Co. - P Chopra & Co. |
| Khanna & Annadhanam | S Aiyar & Co. |
CA Salary in India
The CA brings multiple opportunities to an individual. Candidates often get renowned higher posts in famous organizations. Tabulated below is the various CA jobs along with the respective CA Salaries for your reference.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting Managers | Accounting managers manage and supervise daily accounting operations. They monitor and analyze accounting data and financial statements. They also set up proper accounting principles, methods and policies. | INR 686,609 per annum |
| Finance Manager |
Finance Managers advise other senior managers on the grounds of profit maximisation after intense data analysis and research. They make Financial Reports about investment activities and develop plans for the future financial health of the company. |
INR 7,34,000 per annum |
| Tax Manager |
Tax Managers provide all kind of tax services in regards to law, client servicing and planning. They provide reviews for complex income tax and also provide tax planning that is inovative and less costly. |
INR 6,87,000 |
| Taxation Experts | Taxation experts or tax advisors look for ways to bring down the tax liabilities for clients. They also do the work of estimating taxes on different investment portfolios. | INR 674,232 per annum |
| Accountants | Accountants examine financial statements ensuring accuracy and compliance with existing regulations and laws. They also handle tasks which are tax related. | INR 249,492 per annum |
| Auditing Experts | Auditing experts help the auditors in securing sufficient as well as appropriate audit evidence. Auditing experts are of two types having two different specializations, i.e., internal auditors and external auditors. | INR 364,298 per annum |
FAQs
Ques. Is CA easy to pass?
Ans. The chartered accountancy exam is not very hard. Candidates who have completed their 12th standards can pursue this course. Proper preparation is necessary and students mugging up the whole syllabus can get through this exam with ease.
Ques. What is CA salary?
Ans. The salary of an individual having the CA, varies based on the job profile.
- CA - 7.25 lakhs per annum
- Financial officer - 35 lakhs per annum
- Assistant account manager - 5 lakhs
-
Financial analyst - 6 lakhs
Ques. Is CA a stressful job?
Ans. The job of a CA is not a stressful job. Candidates primarily opt for this course, and from then only they are trained to do a lot of hard work and give time to their presentations.
Ques. Can an average student crack CA?
Ans. No. The CA exam is overall not extremely hard to crack, but it is generally very hard for an average student to successfully clear the exam. To crack this exam, it requires a lot more smart work than hard work.
Ques. Can CA be rich?
Ans. Definitely. CAs can be extremely rich. This is one of the trending as well as one of the most highest paid jobs. The salary of an experienced CA can be upto 35 lakhs per annum.
Ques. What is the best course for CA?
Ans. Some of the best courses to do with the Chartered accountancy program are -
- CPA (Certified Public Accountants)
- CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)
- CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
- ACCA (Association of Certified CAs), etc.
Ques. Is math compulsory for CA?
Ans. Having mathematics in 11th and 12th standards is primarily not a factor to pursue the course. However, courses like maths, economics, and accounts are necessary to know to crack the CA exam.
Ques. Is there an age limit for CA?
Ans. Candidates can pursue the CA with their completion of 12th standards, and there is no upper age limit for the program.
Ques. What is the success rate of CA?
Ans. Though the CA exams are initially not much hard to crack, the success rate for the CA Final exam is a bit low. As per the ICAI release for the CA Final exam of the July session , the pass percentage rate for the new course group is 11.97% and old course group is 1.57%.
Ques. Is CFA harder than CA?
Ans. Coming to the comparison between CFA and CA, regarding which one is harder, CA gets a upper hand as the passing percentage of this program is lower than that of CFA.
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